The Central Bank of Ireland has issued a formal warning against an unauthorised firm operating under the name Brewin Dolphin (CLONE), which is illegally impersonating the legitimately authorised wealth management firm Brewin Dolphin Wealth Management Limited. The warning was published on 20 August 2026, alerting investors to the fraudulent operation that uses cloned branding to deceive potential clients.
- Unauthorised Firm Name: Brewin Dolphin (CLONE)
- Website Address: https://web.bdweurope.com/
- Legitimate Entity Registration: Brewin Dolphin Wealth Management Limited (CBI00022650)
- Authorisation Status in Ireland: Not authorised to operate as an investment firm
The scam entity has replicated the name and logo of the legitimate Brewin Dolphin Wealth Management Limited in an attempt to establish credibility with unsuspecting investors. The Central Bank emphasised that there is no connection whatsoever between the authorised firm and the fraudulent operation. This type of cloning attack represents a significant threat to retail investors who may inadvertently engage with the unauthorised entity believing they are dealing with a regulated financial services provider.
The Central Bank has published the firm’s name under section 53 of the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013. Individuals who encounter this unauthorised firm or possess information about its operations are encouraged to contact the Central Bank at (01) 224 5800 or report the firm directly through official channels. The regulator has also directed consumers to its dedicated financial scams resource page at www.centralbank.ie/financialscams for additional guidance on protecting themselves from such fraudulent schemes.
